Friction draft-gear.



No. 873,210. PATENTBD DEG. 10, 1907. J. R; GARDWBLL.

FRICTION DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIOATION HLEDAPB. 24. 1906.

al Q

l g l l l WM flw,

entran sfrarnsrarianfr carica.

JAMES n. cnpWELL, or omcnoo, ILLINOIS.

FnrorroNtDnAFT-GEAR.

' citizen of the United States, residingr at Chicago, in the county ofCook and. State of Illinels, have invented a certain new and usefuliImprovement 1n Friction Draft Gear, of

wh1ch thev following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My y.inyention relates to friction draft gear for use in railway trainservice, and has for its main object the provision of improved meanswhereby when the coupler of each gear is pulled or pushed, friction iscreated simultaneously at both ends of the friction portion of the gear.

lAnother object of .the invention is to so construct the frictionmechanism of the gear that the sides of the coupler yoke encompassingthe friction elements need not be separated more than the standarddistance established by the Master Car Builders Asso-I ciation, namelysix and one-half (6%) inches. This feature of my invention enables me todispose the sprin mechanismof the ear longitudinally of t e draft sills,though do not wish to be limited in all embodiments of my invention tosuch disposition of 'the spring. I also do not wish to be limited in alembodiments of the invention wherein the friction on each movement ofthe coupler is simultaneously had 'at both ends of the ear. g In thepreferred embodiment of the inven tion the ends of the frictionmechanismwhere the friction desirably simultaneously occurs upon 4eachmovement of the coupler, 'are located one\ ahead of the other lengthwiseof the car, though I do not wish to be limited to this dis-position inall embodiments of the'inventlon.

. In the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ ocketed followerplates, onel SpecificationA of Letters Patent. Application filed April24.1905. Serial No. 257.181.

(follower plates andl which Patented Deo, 10, 15,307.`

sirably rovided in the pocket of.-each follower p ate-a centrallydisposedtriangular friction block element flanked onleach4 side by aloose or floating friction block. Each of these lateral floatingfriction blocks, in turn, is flanked by outside friction blocks ormembers that are movable with respect t-o the preferably project intothe pockets thereof. Spring mechanism is interposed -between the centraltriangular friction blocks carried in the pockets of the followerplates, which spring mechanism may, by means of my invention, fullyoralmost fully occu y the s ace between the longitudinal stretcliesof t1e coupler yoke with'- out impairin the efficiency lof thewlateralfriction. mem ers of the geartll'at exte'ridive-v tween the followerplates, for these friction members ma be scalloped at their4 innerlongitudin al and opposing faces substantially to;

conform to the shape of the's'pring mechan' ism. By this constructionthe vertical thickness or depth of these lateral friction membersmay-substantially eolual` the 4distance between the inner opposed facesof the longitudinal sides of the cou ler yoke. I will more fully setfIdrth the characteristics of my invention and the preferred em,-bodiment thereof by reference to the accompanying drawing, in whichFlgure 1y is 'a plan view illustrating so l much of a car frame as 1snecessary to an understanding of the invention,- the preferred Ydisposition and construction of these sills being suited to the makeI ofthe car. A forward pocketedfollower late 7 abuts a ainst thccouplershank 4 w 'le a rear poc eted follower plate 8 abuts against the rearend of the coupler yoke 6. Centrally disposed triangular. or wedgingfriction elementsv 9- 10 are carried within the pockets ofthe fol lowerplates. These wedging elements 9-10 are desirably movable longitudinallyof the coupler yoke and are flanked by floating or movable triangular orwedge blocks 11: Non-contractible friction elements 12 preferably bridgethe gap between the followerf plates and desirably extend into thepockets i thereof, the floating wedge blocks 11 being interposed betweenthe elements 12 and the floating blocks 9-10, the elements 11 beingadapted for a direct friction contact with the elements 12. The floatingblocks 2)*10 are in engagement with the springs 13 that desirably arecontinuous from block 9 to block '0. The follower plates 4are ladaptedto love longitudinally of the draft sills andare supported thereby inany convenient way. The opposed faces of the frictionI elements 12 aremade concave so as snugly to surround the spring mechanism 13 while atthe same time sufficient friction surfaces are provided at the ends ofthe elements or blocks 12 which are inclined to corres )ond in directionto the contiguous faces ol` the blocks 11. The springs 13 prevented frombulging out of line by means of the closely surrounding opposed conca-vefaces of the blocks 12. The 'f ri ction devices l), l() between whichthe spring 15S is inclosed, taper toward the contiguous portions of thecoupler. This feature is of particular importance where the s ringsextend in continuous lengths from b ook to block 10. This feature of theconi struction is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4. The operation ofthe draft gear illustrated will new be described.

A push upon the coupler causes the pockctcd follower plato 7 to movetoward the rear while a pull upon the coupler causes the pocketedfollower plate 8 to move toward the ront, as will be apparent. In orderthat thc spring mechanism may yield to slight thrusts of the couplerwithout operating the friction blocks, the'blocksjl are normally loosewith respect to the blocks 9*-10-12, as indicated by the Vslightclearance shown, while the blocks 9*-10 normally engage the vertical endwalls of the pockets of the fol` lower plates. A material thrust of thevcoupler, however, will force the plate 7 or the plate S in thedirections mentioned a` sufficient distance to bring the lateralfriction elements 12. into engagement with the blocks 1l and force theseblocks 11 a fainst the blocks 9,-.10, which latter two b ocks; in turn,are forced toward the center of the friction gear by the blocks 11 andagainst lthe force of the spring mechanism,;/13. henever either followerplate 7 or 8 isthus sufficiently moved, it is ap arent'tha;t both blocks9--10 are removed rom engagement withthe vertical end walls. of thelpockets toward the center of the friction gear, wherel"being madeconcave by an increased compression of the spring mechanism is securedfor a given movement of the coupler, making the friction gear much moreresponsive to coupler thrusts.

There is sufficient clearance in the pockets of the follower plates toconveniently permit of the proper operation of the friction memberstherein.

In the preferred form of the invention there is thus provided astructure which ma f be described as a friction draft rear inclut ingtwo friction mechanisms, tie elements 911-11 at one end and the elements10-11-11 at the other end, a friction producing device composed of theelements 12-12, preferably. in distinct pieces and moved l`y the couplerwhen said coupler operates in either direction to effect thesubstantially simultaneous operation of the said friction mechanisms,and s )ringmechanisin interposed between the friction mechanisms. Thespring mechanism is disposed longitudinally of the coupler and thefriction mechanisms are moved bodily longitudinally of the coupler.

it is obvious that many changes may be made in .the preferred embodimentof my invention without departing from the spirlt of the invention, .andI do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise constructionshown, but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters- Patentz- 1. A friction draft gear including a coupler,pockcted follower plates operated by thc coupler, centrally disposedfriction blocks 9, TO in the pockets of the follower plates, frictionblocks 11 flanking each of said centrally disposed friction blocks, afriction producing device 12 extending between the follower plates andinto the pockets thereof and adapted for substantially simultaneousengagement with the friction mechanisms, and spring mechanism inter osedbetween the said centrally' disposed riction,blocks, device 12 beingformed in separated sections, the opposed faces of the sections to housethe spring mechanism.

'2. .i friction draft gear includin a coupler provided with a yoke,poekete follower plates, friction mechanisms carried thereby, springmechanism substantially extendinf across the space between thelong'fift'udina sides of the yoke, and side frictiony elements 12, 12constituting non-contractible friction a coupler provided with a yoke, pockete follower plates, frictionmechanisms carried thereby, lates,thespringmechanism being' disposed spring mechanism substantiallyextending etweeusaid slde friction elements, 10

eacross the space betweenl the longitudinal y In witness whereoL,[hereunto subscribe sides of the yoke, and side friction elements l my11eme this 22nd day of A ril A. D., 1905.

` 12, 12l constituting non-contrectible friction l JAMES R. JARDWELL.

mechanisms and extending into the pocketed Witnesses: follower platesand engeing the Vfriction G. L. CRAGG, mechanisms carried by t e saidfollower CHAs.1 `.BAssETT.

